Portable work or display table

ABSTRACT

A portable work or display table comprising a case having a bottom wall and side walls which mutually define a generally rectangular compartment, a cover being hinged to one of the side walls and closing the compartment. The bottom wall has a pair of elongated spaced, parallel openings formed therein respectively communicating with the compartment. First and second pairs of leg members are provided with means for pivotally mounting the leg members of each pair respectively adjacent their upper ends on a wall of the case, each pair of leg members being respectively pivotally mounted adjacent opposite ends of respective ones of the openings so that each pair of leg members is pivotally movable through the respective opening between a stored position in the compartment with one leg of the pair substantially closing the respective opening and being generally flush with the bottom wall, and an extended position for supporting the case as a table.

United States Patent 1 Washburne 51 Dec. 2, 1975 1 1 PORTABLE WORK ORDISPLAY TABLE P. .l. Washburne,'655 Valleybrook Ave., Wabash, 1nd. 47591[22] Filed: June 20, 1974 1211 Appl. No.: 481,301

[76] Inventor:

[52] U.S. Cl. 312/241; 108/129; 190/11;

312/244; 312/255 [51] Int. Cl. A47B 3/10 [58] Field of Search 312/244,240, 241, 255,

1969 Sweden 312/240 Primary ExaminerPaul R. Gilliam AssistantE.\-aminer1(enneth .1. Dorner OSCILLATING MEANS {57] ABSTRACT A portablework or display table comprising a case having a bottom wall and sidewalls which mutually define a generally rectangular compartment, a coverbeing hinged to one of the side walls and closing the compartment. Thebottom wall has a pair of elongated spaced, parallel openings formedtherein respectively communicating with the compartment. First andsecond pairs of leg members are provided with means for pivotallymounting the leg members of each pair respectively adjacent their upperends on a wall of the case, each pair of leg members being respectivelypivotally mounted adjacent opposite ends of respective ones of theopenings so that each pair of leg members is pivotally movable throughthe respective opening between a stored position in the compartment withone leg of the pair substantially closing the respective opening andbeing generally flush with the bottom wall, and an extended position forsupporting the case as a table.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Sheet 2 of 2 3,923,356

U.S. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 PORTABLE WORK OR DISPLAY TABLE This inventionrelates generally to portable tables. A principal object of the presentinvention is to provide a portable work or display table which, in itsclosed position, resembles a suitcase, and which can be quickly andeasily changed to its extended table-folding position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved portable workor display table which is simple in design, and inexpensive tomanufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient inoperation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention shown folded up soto form a suitcase shaped enclosure.

FIG. 2 is an end view thereof shown partly in cross section.

FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view thereof shown set up as a displaytable, and as viewed on line 33 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view thereof taken on line 44 of FIG.1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view thereof, shown set up as a display table.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral generallyrepresents a portable work or display table wherein there is a case 11having a closeable cover 12 attached by hinges 13, and which issecurable by lock 14. A handle 15 allows easy carrying. A chain or braceholds the cover in upright displaying position.-

On the bottom wall 16 of the case, two long slots 17 each store a pairof legs 18 which in a stored position are flush with wall 16 so that thecase is attractive in appearance. Each leg is pivotable about a pin 19so the legs can swing out of the slots as shown by arrows 20 in order toform a small table. Each pin is slidable in a slot 21 so that afterbeing pivoted outward, the leg can be pushed upward into an end opening22 so to hold the leg firmly and prevent collapsing. A notch 23 on thelegs snaps behind a leaf spring 24 thus securing it in locked positionagainst spring 25.

To collapse the legs, they are each simply pulled so to disengage fromthe end openings and are then pivoted back into slots 17. Detents 26lock the legs in stored position so they do not accidentally pivot out.

A notch 27 at the end of the slots 17 is provided for a finger to reachthe leg end so to pivot it out of the slot.

The 'case includes a pair of flat panels 28 and 29 mounted on hinges 30so to swing out of the case from a stored position A to an extendedposition B. In extended position, they each rest across the case endwalls 31 so to be strong enough to support heavy objects placed on thepanels. Thus, when the panels are extended, the device forms a displayor work table.

The case includes compartments 32, 33, and 34 on top formed bypartitions 35.

A drawer 36 is slidable outwardly from a space formed between bottomwall 16 and a central wall 37, the drawer having a pivotable flush typepull handle 38. Compartments 39 are formed inside the drawer by means oftransverse partitions 40 which also serve as shelves when the drawer ispulled out and stood on its end. As suggested in FIG. 3, jar caps 41 canbe secured to the undersides of these shelves so jars 42 can be screwedon, in order to store various items therein, such as nails, screws, oretc.

The device can include numerous other features such as a drawer lock 43,case protective metal corners 44, etc.

The device wouldbe ideal for use by home craftsmen and servicemen tohold tools, and provide a work table, while for salesmen it would carryand display products.

I claim:

1. A portable work or display table comprising a case having a bottomwall and side walls mutually defining a generally rectangularcompartment, a cover hinged to one of said side walls for closing saidcompartment, said bottom wall having a pair of elongated, spaced,parallel slots formed therein respectively communicating with saidcompartment and respectively parallel with and adjacent opposite ones ofside wall, first and second pairs of leg members each having upper andlower ends, means for pivotally mounting said first pair of leg membersrespectively adjacent their upper ends on one of said opposite sidewalls, the legs of said first pair being respectively pivotally mountedadjacent opposite ends of the respective one slot, means for pivotallymounting the second pair of leg members respectively adjacent theirupper ends on the other of said opposite side walls, the legs of saidsecond pair being respectively pivotally mounted adjacent opposite endsof the other slot, the leg members of each pair being pivotally movablethrough the respective slot between a stored position in saidcompartment with one leg of the pair substantially closing therespective slot and being generally flush with said bottom wall, and anextended position for supporting said case as a table, the leg membersof each pair in the stored position thereof extending in oppositedirections and being in parallel, vertically overlapped relation withrespect to said cover and bottom wall, said mounting means for each saidleg member comprising a pin slidably received in a slot in therespective one of said opposite side walls, each of said last-namedslots being generally perpendicular to said bottom wall and having lowerand upper ends, each of said pins being adjacent said lower end of therespective last-named slot in the stored position and adjacent the upperend in the extended position of the respective leg member, said casehaving four parallel, vertical extending openings formed therein, saidopenings being respectively adjacent the ends of said firstnamed slots,the upper end of each said last-named slot extending into a respectiveopening, said upper ends of each of said leg members in the extendedposition thereof being received in a respective opening and being heldthereby against collapse.

2. The table of claim 1 further comprising first detent means forholding each of said leg members in its stored positions, and seconddetent means for holding each of said leg members in its extendedposition.

3. The table of claim 1 further comprising a pair of panels respectivelyhinged to the two of said side walls which are respectively joined tosaid one side wall, said panels being hingedly movable between a storedposition in said compartment in generally overlapped relation and anextended position respectively extending outwardly from said two sidewalls thereby to extend said table.

4. The table of claim 3 wherein said panels in said extended positionsthereof respectively rest on and are supported by the upper edges ofsaid two side walls.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION- Peter J.Washburne INVENTOR(S) It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

attached Figure [Ill/Ill l/l/ Ill/jI/llI/I/Il/l/Il/ Signed andScal'cdthie d On the Cover Sheet, cancel Figure of drawing andsubstitute Twentieth Day Of July 1976 [SEAL] A ttes t:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner ofParemsand Trademarks

1. A portable work or display table comprising a case having a bottomwall and side walls mutually defining a generally rectangularcompartment, a cover hinged to one of said side walls for closing saidcompartment, said bottom wall having a pair of elongated, spaced,parallel slots formed therein respectively communicating with saidcompartment and respectively parallel with and adjacent opposite ones ofside wall, first and second pairs of leg members each having upper andlower ends, means for pivotally mounting said first pair of leg membersrespectively adjacent their upper ends on one of said opposite sidewalls, the legs of said first pair being respectively pivotally mountedadjacent opposite ends of the respective one slot, means for pivotallymounting the second pair of leg members respectively adjacent theirupper ends on the other of said opposite side walls, the legs of saidsecond pair being respectively pivotally mounted adjacent opposite endsof the other slot, the leg members of each pair being pivotally movablethrough the respective slot between a stored position in saidcompartment with one leg of the pair substantially closing therespective slot and being generally flush with said bottom wall, and anextended position for supporting said case as a table, the leg membersof each pair in the stored position thereof extending in oppositedirections and being in parallel, vertically overlapped relation withrespect to said cover and bottom wall, said mounting means for each saidleg member comprising a pin slidably received in a slot in therespective one of said opposite side walls, each of said last-namedslots being generally perpendicular to said bottom wall and having lowerand upper ends, each of said pins being adjacent said lower end of therespective last-named slot in the stored position and adjacent the upperend in the extended position of the respective leg member, said casehaving four parallel, vertical extending openings formed therein, saidopenings being respectively adjacent the ends of said first-named slots,the upper end of each said last-named slot extending into a respectiveopening, said upper ends of each of said leg members in the extendedposition thereof being received in a respective opening and being heldthereby against collapse.
 2. The table of claim 1 further comprisingfirst detent means for holding each of said leg members in its storedpositions, and second detent means for holding each of said leg membersin its extended position.
 3. The table of claim 1 further comprising apair of panels respectively hinged to the two of said side walls whichare respectively joined to said one side wall, said panels beinghingedly movable between a stored position in said compartment ingenerally overlapped relation and an extended position respectivelyextending outwardly from said two side walls thereby to extend saidtable.
 4. The table of claim 3 wherein said panels in said extendedpositions thereof respectively rest on and are supported by the upperedges of said two side walls.